Reenforced applicator cap



Aug y 1,595,327 R. H. VAN SANT REENFORCED APPLICATOR CAP Filed Jan.225,v 1925 2 LL-1 Eglmgi" RobrvtHI/ancant Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

UNl'l'ED STATES M rsnr oFFIcE.

ROBERT H. VAN SANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VAN ESSLABORATORIES, INC., CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

REENFORCED APPLICATOR CAP.

Application filed ranaury 23, 192'5.

I This invention relates to an improvement in. applicators for massagingpurposes. These applicators are generally made of rubber or the like andare adapted to Lt upon an ointmentbottle when in use. The

applicator is usually provided with ointmentV feeding teats having ductsleading therethrough. During the operation of the applicator, theseducts sometimes beca-me partially closed or' clogged through the flexingofthe rubber. Toovercome this objection1 it has beenproposed to enlargethe outer and innerportions of the du'cts in the ointment feeding teats.While this structure greatly overcame the previous objection, themanufacturing process thereof was somewhat dif- ;ticultand expensive. Inpractice it has been found that thesel rubber applicators bulgeiipwardl. and the teats bulge outwardly more or less, dueto theexpansion caused by the ointment. This bulging tends to restrict theflow of ointment through the teats.

The problem herewith concerned seeks to overcome this objection in theprovision of an applicator that resists the outward bulging 'eect of theointment feeding teats, that always maintains a sufficient flow ofointment and that can be economically manufactured.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combinations hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointed out and delined in the appendedclaim.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of thisinvention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the different views:

Figure l is an elevational view of an ointment bottle equipped with anapplicator involving this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view upon the line II-II of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the applicatorshowing a fragment of the ointment bottle attached thereto.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the form of theapplicator after acted upon by the ointment.

As shown on the drawings:

The apr-lieto? @Para a ebbe tsr 1 Serial N o. 4,137.

or nipples 4, having suitable ducts 5 efrtending therethrough andthrough the base of the applicators. These ducts are of uniform bore andof sufficient size to prevent the same from closing or restricting-theiow of ointment4 on account of the iiexure arising from the operation ofthe applicator.

A metal plate 6 is embedded in the base of the applicator and isprovided with small apertures 7 coaXially with the ducts 5. This platemember will reenforce the rubber disk and prevent the outward bulging ofthe ointment feeding teats 4; at the same time the smaller apertures inthe plate 6 will restrict the iiow of ointment to the desired amount.There will, however, be an upward bulging of the top of the disk asshown in Figure 4; the flexure occurring between the margin of the plate6 and the attaching ange of the disk, whereby the massaging nipples willbulge outwardly bringing their tops nearer to the tops of the teats 4which will remain vertical. In other words, the portion of thedislrcontaining. the plate 6 will be elevated in a straight horizontalplane.

The lower surface of the disk is provided with the rib 8 that is adaptedto expand against the neck of the bottle, and a circular expansiongroove 9 concentric of said rib and located within the confines thereof.

It will be appreciated that the large uniform bores in the ointmentfeeding nipples or teats simplifies the manufacture thereof, and theembedded reenforcing plate 6 not only restricts the flow of ointmentthat would naturally ow through the ducts; it also resists the outwardbulging of the ointment feeding nipples and prevents the ducts thereinfrom partially closing so that the steady desired flow of ointment issecured.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous det-ails ofconstruction may be varied through @L Wide Irange without departing fromthevprineiples of this invention, and I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

claim as my invention:

An applicator, comprising' a flexible disk having ointment feeding"nipples With enlarged uniform bores, and a metal plate embedded in andsurrounded by the material o1 seid disk and having' smaller aperturesthan said bores in registry therewith.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto subscribed my name.

ROBERT H. VAN SANT.

